Opinion: Tuesday’s election results are a message to Republicans to get things done

by Boris Epshteyn, Chief Political Analyst

Democrat Chris Hurst defeated Republican Joseph Yost to win House of Delegates District 12 on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Blacksburg, Va. Hurst celebrates with a packed room of supporters at The Hyatt Place in Blacksburg. (Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.

Was that a surprise? Not necessarily. Virginia is now a blue state. Virginia has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004. After this election, 4 of the last 5 governors of Virginia will have been Democrats.

What does this mean for 2018? Well, Republicans better start getting results. On tax reform, on health care reform, on infrastructure. As long as Republicans get things done, 2018 is going to be a good midterm season. If not, the Democrats could sweep the victories in the Senate and the House.

Having said that, Democrats have had five chances to pick up seats in the House of Representatives in 2017 including on Tuesday in Utah. They haven’t won any of those races.

So, while Tuesday’s elections are important for Democrats, because frankly losses would have been terrible, they are not necessarily indications 2018 is going to represent a blue wave.

Here’s the bottom line: the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia were not referendums on Donald Trump. Democrats won two seats they were supposed to win. However, they were a statement to Republicans that they have to concentrate on achievements and get things done in order to keep the majorities in the House and the Senate in 2018 and have good momentum moving in 2020.